Cons
Limited list of providers for brick-and-mortar purchases.
Scan a Check feature has been eliminated.

Bottom Line

The PayPal Android app offers a convenient and useful interface for dedicated PayPal users to manage their accounts from anywhere. It also lets you pay with PayPal in stores, although the network of merchants is fairly limited.

PayPal has long been a wonderful payment service, acting as an intermediary between your bank or credit card information and merchants, and anyone who uses it will want to download the PayPal app (free). The app lets you manage your account, send money on the fly, request funds, and even pay with your PayPal account in stores—although that's the app's least exciting feature because of a lack of retailers that participate.

Shopping disappointment aside, PayPal offers a clean and user-friendly app that gives you all the access you could reasonably want into your PayPal account from anywhere you have an Internet connection. It is an indispensable app for PayPal users, even if you don't end up using one of its primary features.

PayPal Mobile FeaturesIn the past year, I've started using PayPal more and more to quickly send money to friends and pay for goods online. More than a few times, I've found myself walking along and suddenly remember that I was supposed to pay back a friend or send money to one of my family members for a shared expense. Rather than make a note of it, the PayPal app lets me just take care of business on the spot.

A collapsible left menu gives you access to the major areas of the app: Shop, Activity, Send and Request, Wallet, and Settings. One thing that's missing in this latest version of the app is the Scan a Check function. Formerly, you could add money to your PayPal account by scanning a check, but that's now gone. If you used that feature in prior versions, you will be sorely disappointed that it's now off the table.

Shop.PayPal, owned by eBay, wants you to shop. Unfortunately, the number and variety of merchants who accept PayPal in their stores is limited. A partnership with Eat24 brought a new batch of restaurants and cafes to the list of merchants in my area that accept PayPal, but that network comprises what I would consider third-tier businesses—all the best eateries accepting mobile payments have already signed up with Seamless, Grubhub, Square, or LevelUp (and occasionally more than one of those).

For in-store purchases, PayPal works very much like Square. When you're ready to check out, you unlock the PayPal app. The merchant can see on her end any PayPal customers who are within the vicinity by name and photo (assuming you've uploaded one). You can select which account to use when you pay, or just stick to your default account. The merchant will then likely confirm you are the person she sees on her app, complete the transaction, and that's pretty much it.

With some restaurants, you can place your order right from the PayPal app, similar to using Seamless or Grubhub.

I find the shopping aspect of the app the weakest because of the dearth of merchants. It's a shame, really, because PayPal has done some innovative work in regards to mobile payments and building infrastructure to support them. But until more merchants—and specifically more big-name retailers—adopt the service, the advancements aren't as applicable as they could be in the real world.

Activity.You can see all your latest transactions from the Activity section. This area is nothing more than a list of transactions with the name, amount, and short description (such as "sent payment" or "transfer"). It's very straightforward. Tap on any line item, and additional details—status, transaction ID, etc.—appear.

Send and Request. Sending payments is extremely simple. When you tap on the Send and Request section, a page appears that lets you fill out the email address or mobile phone number of the recipient, alongside the amount you want to send them. There's an optional message you can add, too. It's exactly the same as using PayPal online. You'll also have to select whether the money is for friends and family, or goods or services so PayPal can charge the appropriate fee if applicable.

Instead of a "pay now" button, the next step is to hit "Review." It's subtle language, but I like that the app is clear that you'll have a chance to make corrections before you complete the transaction.

If you'd rather get money than give it, there's an option at the top of the screen to "Request" funds. You then fill out a short form that's similar to the one described above.

Wallet. In the app, you can see entries for all the bank accounts and credit card accounts that are tied to your PayPal account, and you can change which one you're using for any transaction. You can't see the details, such as the account numbers, though (more on that in the security section).

From the Wallet section, you can also add a new payment: debit card, credit card, bank account, "bill me later" option, or loyalty card.

SecurityPayPal, as a service, is a layer of security in itself. It acts as an intermediary so that businesses never get their hands on your credit card or banking information. And the app takes security seriously, too.

None of your banking details are visible in the PayPal app. The app also locks you out immediately if you switch to another app even for a second. You can add a PIN, but more importantly, PayPal prompts you to enter that PIN (or your password) any time you're about move or use your money—not just to unlock the app. Additionally, the app suggests you should add a photo of yourself that looks like you and shows you face clearly so that merchants can visually identify you if you ever do use the in-store purchasing features.

For PayPal UsersIf you are a PayPal user, you will absolutely want the PayPal Android app on your phone. It has a clear and useful interface for managing payments, viewing your transaction history, sending money on the spot, and requesting funds. If you have used the "scan a check" feature in the past, you'll probably be disappointed that it has been removed from the latest version of the app. And whether you'll get much use out of the shopping aspect may depend on how many (and which) merchants in your area support PayPal. For in-store shopping, be sure to explore Square and LevelUp. They have more interesting list of businesses. Use PayPal for everything else it offers, though.

Jill Duffy is a writer and senior analyst, specializing in productivity apps and software, iOS, as well as apps and gadgets for health and fitness. She writes the weekly Get Organized column, with tips on...

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